Followers

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

BoDeans singer goes solo

Sam Llanas, formerly of the BoDeans, will release his new album The Whole Night Thru on Nov. 18 via Llanas Music.

The guitar-driven collection was produced by longtime collaborator Gary Tanin and features nine Llanas originals.

With a career spanning decades, Llanas is continuing his solo pilgrimage after 25 years with the band he co-founded. His 12th studio album and third major solo effort, The Whole Night Thru, blends roots rock styles and more.

Work began in 2013 with Llanas began completing The Whole Night Thru in Milwaukee with producer-musician Tanin, who had also worked on the singer-songwriter’s previous solo efforts, A Good Day To Die, 4 A.M. (The Way Home) and 4/5 Live - Vol. I.

“I’ve always been influenced by what I heard," Llanas revealed. "In the ‘60s, when radio was wide open, you would hear the Beatles and the Stones, Motown Soul and Atlanta Soul, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding and Southern Soul. You’d hear Tom Jones, The Carpenters, Glen Campbell and country artists, you’d hear Johnny Cash and folk. Those songs were all really well-written and well performed.”

Going solo at this point in his career has allowed Llanas to combine the experience of a seasoned professional with the passion of an emerging artist.

As Llanas admits, “I think the best part about being solo has been that I get to express myself completely now. I never got to sing half of these songs, and I always wanted to. I love being able to have that freedom.”